Results 4,761-4,780 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (14 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The EU-UK issue is of real national importance and mitigating any negative impacts for Ireland is a strategic priority for this Government. We are therefore monitoring developments very closely, engaging with our British counterparts and doing all we can to help to ensure that the UK remains in the EU. For my part and that of my Department, this includes regular engagement at political level...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (14 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The European Union has been deeply worried by the deteriorating political situation in Macedonia for some time, and it has been the subject of high-level meetings of the Council, most recently last month, when both the Foreign Affairs and General Affairs Councils discussed it. Ongoing political instability and dysfunction as demonstrated by the boycott of parliament by the opposition since...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Representations (14 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has a very clear strategy in place for this consular case, and is focused on achieving a positive outcome at the earliest time possible. That strategy is based on two clear objectives: firstly to see this individual released by the Egyptian authorities so that he can return to his family and his studies in Ireland and, secondly, to provide consular...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (14 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The current average age of permanent staff in my Department is 46.2 years.Information on the average age of staff in my Department at the end of 2008 and 2011 is not readily available. There are no State Agencies under the remit of my Department.

Events at Ballymurphy in 1971 and Legacy Issues: Motion (15 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Members for their contributions to the debate on this all-party motion on this important issue. I pay special tribute to members of the Ballymurphy families present in this House today for the debate. I know the pain of the loss of their loved ones will never cease. I hope, however, they will take some comfort from the fact that their quest for truth about what happened on those...

Northern Ireland: Statements (15 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: That is scurrilous.

Northern Ireland: Statements (15 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy is making them.

Northern Ireland: Statements (15 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: That is the Deputy's real agenda.

Northern Ireland: Statements (15 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: It is just over a year to the day since I took up my current responsibilities as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, a year that has been defined by strenuous efforts to resolve long-standing issues, meet newer ones head on, and keep Northern Ireland on track towards a prosperous and reconciled future. Within hours of becoming Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I had made my first...

Northern Ireland: Statements (15 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I very much welcome today's debate on Northern Ireland. I acknowledge the contributions of Members across the House, which have captured not only the challenges but the opportunities that Northern Ireland faces. I agree with Deputies Gerry Adams and Mary Lou McDonald that we need to have more frequent debates in the House and I disagree with Deputy Shane Ross in that regard. I would like...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (15 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Passport Express is the primary service for obtaining a passport within the State. It is delivered by the Department’s Passport Service in partnership with An Post. Its popularity is reflected by the fact that over 90% of all passport applications in the State are made through this service. An Post, through its approximately 900 offices, brings Passport Express to local communities...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (15 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Currently there is only one passport application form for use within the state – APS1. While over 90% of all passport applications in the State are made through the Passport Express service there are still a significant number of citizens who use other means of applying. For these applications the payment section on the form is still required.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Provision (15 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: My Department is aware of this case and has provided consular assistance to the citizen and their family since July 2013. The Embassy of Ireland in Singapore, which is accredited to the Philippines, as well as the Honorary Consulate General in Manila have provided ongoing assistance to this citizen, including providing a list of lawyers; making representations to the prison service on the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Coimhlintí Eachtracha (15 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Gné lárnach is ea Gaza den choinbhleacht sa Mheánoirthear agus de Phróiseas na Síochána, agus baineann fadhbanna agus ábhair cúraim ar leith leis as féin freisin. Tá iarracht chomhsheasmhach déanta ag Éirinn ar leibhéal an AE fanacht dírithe ar cheist Ghaza, agus tá béim leagtha aici air go mbeidh coinbhleacht as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Programmes (16 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The mission of my Department is to serve the Irish people, to promote their values and advance their prosperity abroad, and to provide the Government with the capabilities, analysis and influence to ensure that Ireland derives the maximum benefit from all areas of its external engagement. My Department’s Statement of Strategy for 2015-2017 outlines how we intend to achieve our high...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (16 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Government follows closely reports of human rights violations against Falun Gong practitioners, including reported cases of organ harvesting, and is concerned about the situation. Human rights issues are discussed regularly with the Chinese authorities during both bilateral and multilateral meetings, including during the recent visit of Premier Li Keqiang to Ireland. Through the formal...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (16 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 610 and 611 together. The Government fully supports the all-party Dáil motions of July 2008 and May 2011 urging the British Government to allow access by an independent international judicial figure to all original documents in their possession relating to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. I have raised this issue with the British Government on a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (16 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland strongly condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, irrespective of where they occur or who the victims are. We attach great importance to combatting all forms of discrimination based on religion or belief and incitement to religious hatred. We firmly believe in tolerance, non-discrimination, freedom of expression, freedom of thought, conscience, religion...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (16 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 613 and 614 together. The discussion on the MEPP begun at the Foreign Affairs Council in May, which I expect will continue at the July Council next week, is considering the broad spectrum of the EU’s engagement on the issue, of which Gaza is one part. In the longer perspective, Ireland has consistently acted to keep in front of the Council the need...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (16 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The crisis in Syria and the region is now in its fifth year. The human impact of the violence and displacement of communities has been devastating. Some 220,000 Syrians have been killed, and over 4 million have fled as refugees to surrounding countries. Ireland is particularly mindful of the impact of the crisis on neighbouring countries which are supporting large populations of vulnerable...